Unfortunately, many are familiar with osteochondrosis. This disease has become a real disease of the century. First of all, a sedentary lifestyle causes osteochondrosis, which for most of us becomes the norm. Problem number two is an unbalanced diet and alcohol abuse. Oddly enough, but it is food that has a direct effect on the state of the spine.
The most common type of this disease is cervical osteochondrosis. The cervical spine is a particular risk area, as the size of the vertebrae there is smaller than in other areas of the spine. Also, the neck does not have as muscular a corset as the rest of the back.
Development of cervical osteochondrosis
The danger is that at first a person often does not even realize that he is sick. At the first stage of the development of the disease, the intervertebral discs experience mild destructive effects - the elasticity decreases, the first small cracks appear, the height of the disc becomes smaller (as a result, the nerve roots begin to compress). There is discomfort in the neck or aching pain.
If the first degree of osteochondrosis passes to the second, the pain progresses. This is due to the fact that the destruction of the intervertebral disc continues to progress, resulting in subluxations of the vertebrae of the neck. The development of the disease can follow - the so-called drooping head syndrome, which is characterized by severe pain. Accordingly, the patient needs to support his head - in this position the pain becomes somewhat weaker.
The third degree of cervical osteochondrosis has a number of even more unpleasant symptoms: nausea, "lumbago" in the neck, dizziness, weakening of the sensitivity of the hands and, of course, pain.
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis in the neck and its causes
Exacerbation of the disease can occur at any stage. The reason is usually:
- Sudden movements, excessive physical activity, carrying heavy loads. If a person suffering from osteochondrosis in the neck makes a sharp turn or tilts his head, it is not clear how his intervertebral discs will react to this.
- Nervous situations and stress. Often, stressful situations "ignite" diseases that are deeply rooted in us: cervical osteochondrosis is no exception.
- A massage performed by a non-professional. If you know you have osteochondrosis and you go to a session, it is your responsibility to notify the massage therapist of the disease. Otherwise, the consequences can be the most unpredictable. And, of course, you can't entrust your back and neck to a massage therapist whose skill is in doubt.
- Weather changes and hypothermia. Especially often exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis occur in the fall.
- Going to the bath during an exacerbation. In itself, a visit to the bath or sauna can be useful, since warming up often benefits the patient. But the desire to plunge into cold water or jump hot into the cold will have to be abandoned, because osteochondrosis will not take long to "thank" you with even more aggravation.
- Aged age. Intervertebral discs tend to wear down over the years, so the exacerbation of the disease in older people is not surprising.
- A neglected state of the disease. If osteochondrosis is not treated, exacerbations cannot be avoided.
Worsening symptoms
Symptoms of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis can be different - it all depends on the degree of progression of the disease. It can be pain in the parietal region, a decrease in the sensitivity of the skin in the same place, pain in one half of the neck, a feeling of heaviness in the tongue, pain in the collarbone andthe shoulder girdle.
In a particularly acute phase of exacerbation, there may be respiratory failure and pain in the region of the heart or liver. If vertebral artery syndrome occurs, undulating headaches may appear, especially "pressure" on the eyes, temples and ears. It happens that the exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis causes pain only in the left half or only in the right half of the head, as happens with migraine. Another indicator is a characteristic cracking sound at the back of the head when the head is tilted or turned.
With regard to vision and hearing, fog may appear before the eyes, flashing dots and spots. Ringing in the ears and dizziness are not excluded.
If the pain spreads to the arm, muscle strength may be weakened. Pain can also be felt in the hand and fingers.
First aid for exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation should be prescribed by a professional. Therefore, if the aggravation of the disease caught you while you were home alone, it is better to call a doctor. Before his arrival, it is desirable to move as little as possible, the optimal solution is to lie down in bed. You are allowed to take painkillers. These medications are designed to reduce pain and reduce inflammation present in the spine.
Also, the doctor can prescribe chondroprotectors - they should help stop the destructive processes occurring in the disc. However, these drugs need to be taken for a fairly long period - about six months. But they will help prevent re-exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Muscle relaxants, drugs that reduce pathological tension in the muscles, will not be superfluous. Vascular drugs, B vitamins, diuretics (with constant monitoring), and nootropic drugs are also usually prescribed.
How long does an exacerbation last?
The exacerbation phase for each person proceeds in its own way. The same goes for the duration of the attack. If the treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis was started in a timely and correct manner, it is likely that the peak of the disease will subside in a few days. In more complex and advanced cases, the period of exacerbations can last several weeks. If the disease is not treated and the matter is left to chance, there is a great danger that a second exacerbation will not take long to come - in this case, the periods of "calm" will be more and moreshort. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to prevent exacerbations.
How to reduce the risk of re-exacerbation?
A person who at least once suffered an exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis and felt his "charms" on himself should do everything possible to prevent repeated attacks. Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during exacerbation should be intensive, but it does not follow that if the danger has passed, you can relax.
It will be useful to consult an experienced massage therapist, who should be informed in advance about problems with the neck. If there is no possibility to register for a massage, you can limit yourself to self-massage. To do this, it is recommended to perform effleurage, kneading and vibration movements in the neck area.
Finding a good chiropractor is a big deal. Therefore, if you know, you can contact him. Treatment of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, as well as preventive procedures, may include such manual effects:
- Relaxation massage, designed to relieve tension from tense muscles and warm them up well.
- Mobilization. The purpose of such an impact is to restore the functions of the joints with the help of traction.
- Handling. Its essence lies in the fact that the chiropractor produces a strong thrust in the area of the problem area, as a result of which the joint returns to its natural position.
Acupuncture can also be very useful in preventing the exacerbation of osteochondrosis in the neck. Naturally, only a specialist should perform such a procedure.
Diet also plays a role. Patients are advised to focus on foods rich in magnesium and calcium (i. e. legumes, nuts, seafood, fish, and dairy products). You will have to give up excessive alcohol consumption, since alcohol tends to negatively affect the circulatory system, which already suffers from osteochondrosis of the neck.
Lifestyle of a person with cervical osteochondrosis
Regarding daily life and daily routine, the following is recommended:
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress with a small pillow under your head.
- A hot shower, sauna and bath are useful (except for the period of treatment of cervical osteochondrosis during an exacerbation).
- Swimming is very useful - it helps relieve spasms and strengthens muscles.
- If you work seated, you should take regular breaks to warm up. In addition, it is advisable even in a sitting position to try to change position every fifteen minutes.
- Hiking is helpful, but best to refrain from jumping and running.
- Physical exercises, the purpose of which is to strengthen the muscular corset of the neck, are the key to the fight against osteochondrosis.
Like any other condition, cervical osteochondrosis should be treated as soon as possible. If the disease hid and "showed its claws" only when osteochondrosis had already begun to progress, do not despair. The tips above should definitely help!